Exploring the Gochang Apple Theme Park
Hello!
After the holiday season, I visited the Gochang Apple Theme Park.
The Gochang Apple Theme Park is an exhibition space where you can see, feel, and experience everything about apples through your senses.
Operating Hours: Thursday to Tuesday (Closed every Wednesday)
Visiting Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Admission: Free
Upon entering, the first thing that catches your eye is a beautifully decorated photo zone with neon signs. Thanks to the sparkling lights, your photos will come out even brighter!
Walking slowly to the left from the entrance, the exhibition hall naturally follows. As I explored along the path, I could see the long history of apples and the story of apple cultivation in Korea at a glance.
Western apples have a cultivation history of over 4,000 years, and it was impressive to learn how varieties have been improved and spread across the globe.
The beginning of apple cultivation in Korea was also fascinating. In the late 17th century, the 'Bingwa' variety from China was brought back by envoys from the Qing Dynasty.
This introduction of apples gradually established their presence in our land, leading to today's cultivation history.
This space also provides detailed information on how to enjoy apples better, how to choose good apples, and even food pairings.
The best way to enjoy apples is to eat them whole with the skin on, as the skin is rich in vitamin C. From now on, I will make sure to eat the skin!
Here, various apple varieties and the nutritional components found within apples are introduced in detail. While familiar varieties like Hongro and Fuji were present, there were also many unfamiliar domestic and international varieties on display, which was quite interesting.
Reading about the various components within apples made me realize that a single apple contains more nutrients than I expected.
The exhibition also showcases how apples grow through the four seasons. In spring, buds bloom and flowers blossom; in summer, small fruits form and grow larger. By autumn, they ripen and are harvested, and in winter, the trees prepare for the next year.
This comprehensive overview of the apple growth process was easy to understand.
On the second floor, there is another exhibition hall that introduces various recipes using apples, including apple rolls, fried apples, apple candy, apple skewers, and apple snacks, which caught my attention with their variety.
It would be nice to try making these recipes at home!
There is also a space where you can hang photos you take on an apple tree. Seeing the pictures hanging on the tree was heartwarming, and I believe it will create lovely memories for my next visit.
Additionally, there is a space for apple postcards where you can express your love and gratitude to family, friends, and partners.
Apples are categorized based on their harvest times: early, mid, and late varieties. The Aori apple, which has a bluish hue, belongs to the early variety, while Hongro and Hongok are mid-season varieties. I also learned that the Fuji variety, often referred to as Busa, is a late-season apple.
The exhibition explains various diseases and pests that affect apples, including anthracnose, scab, and brown spot disease. I often see farmers spraying trees in the orchards, and now I understand that this is to prevent these diseases and pests.
The Gochang Premium Apple Cluster is highlighted, showcasing a network of key players involved in the production, distribution, and processing of Gochang apples.
The Apple Experience Center offers cooking experiences using apples, with scheduled times for participation.
Unfortunately, I missed the experience time during my visit, but I plan to participate next time.
As I explored the Apple Theme Park, I realized how many stories and processes are contained in the single apple we eat every day. The diverse exhibits on cultivation history, varieties, cooking, and hands-on experiences made it both enjoyable and educational.
This would be a great place to visit with children to learn about nature and food.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/geochanggun/224192434745
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